Avashyak Kriya - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Avashyak Kriya" by Sukhlal Sanghavi:

Title: Avashyak Kriya (Essential Practices) Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi Publisher: Z_Jaindharma_no_Pran_002157.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/249515/1

This text discusses the significance and nature of "Avashyak Kriya" (essential practices) within Jainism, drawing parallels to similar devotional acts in other religions.

Core Significance and Practice:

Universal Importance: The text establishes that "Avashyak" holds a similar importance in Jainism as "Sandhya" in Vedic society, "Kher Deh Avasta" prayers for Parsis, and "Namaz" for Muslims and Christians.
Mendicants (Sadhus): For monks and nuns, performing "Avashyak" twice daily (morning and evening) is mandatory according to scripture. Failure to do so disqualifies them from their spiritual status, as it was a rule set by the first and last Tirthankaras.
Lay Disciples (Shravakas): For lay followers, practicing "Avashyak" is voluntary. However, those who are spiritually inclined and committed to vows often perform it. Even those who don't perform it daily try to do so at least bi-weekly, quarterly, or annually.
Enduring Tradition: The Svetambara tradition holds "Avashyak Kriya" in high regard. Even individuals who don't regularly visit temples, as well as children, gather in religious places to perform these rituals, especially during significant festivals like "Samvatsarik." This demonstrates the deep-rooted importance of "Avashyak" in their upbringing and spiritual life.

Historical and Doctrinal Context:

Preservation of Ancient Rituals: The text highlights that the "Avashyak Kriya," with a tradition predating the Churni period and mentioned by esteemed scholars like Sri Haribhadrasuri, has been largely preserved without significant alteration in the Svetambara Murtipujak sect.
Contrast with Sthanakvasi Tradition: In contrast, the Sthanakvasi tradition is noted to have made modifications to some ancient mantras and the ritualistic procedures within "Avashyak." Examples cited include alterations to mantras like "Pukharvaradiva," "Siddhanam," "Arihantcheyanam," "Ayariya-uvajjhaya," and "Abuddhham."
Continuity in Tapa and Kharatara Gacchas: The practice in the Tapa and Kharatara Gacchas is presented as a direct continuation of the ancient methods, with no observed changes to the original mantras or rituals.

Defining "Avashyak Kriya":

Meaning: "Avashyak" is defined as "that which is essential to do."
Varied Application: The nature of "Avashyak Kriya" is not uniform; it varies based on the individual's spiritual status and capacity.
Focus on Inner Insight: The discussion primarily concerns the "Avashyak" for those with "Antardrishti" (inner insight), meaning those whose focus is on the soul and the pursuit of innate happiness.
Spiritual Growth: For such individuals, "Avashyak" refers to actions that help develop qualities like right faith (Samyaktva), consciousness (Chetana), and conduct (Charitra), leading to the experience of inherent happiness. Essentially, "Avashyak" are actions essential for manifesting qualities like knowledge.
Synonyms: In Vedic philosophy, similar obligatory duties are referred to as "Nityakarma." The text lists several Sanskrit terms like "Avashyak Kartavya," "Dhruva," "Nigraha," "Vidhi," "Adhyayanavarga," "Nyaya," "Aradhana," and "Marga" as synonymous with "Avashyak."

The Six Essential Practices ("Chha Avashyak"):

The text outlines six primary categories of "Avashyak Kriya":

Samayika (Equanimity):
- Definition: Maintaining a state of equanimity and impartiality, not being swayed by attachment (Raga) or aversion (Dvesha), and treating all beings equally as oneself.
- Types: Right Samayika (Samyak Samayika), Samayika through meditation (Mruta Samayika), and Samayika through conduct (Charitra Samayika).
- Sub-types of Charitra Samayika: Partial conduct (Deshacharitara) for householders and complete conduct (Sarvacharitara) for ascetics.
- Synonyms: Equanimity, right faith, peace, well-conducted.
Chaturvimsatistava (Praise of the Twenty-Four Tirthankaras):
- Definition: Praising the twenty-four ideal beings who are replete with all virtues.
- Types: Material praise (Dravya Stava) involving offerings like flowers, and internal praise (Bhava Stava) involving reciting their virtues.
- Benefit for Householders: The text mentions that "Dravya Stava" is beneficial for householders, as detailed in the Avashyak Niyukti.
Vandan (Salutation/Reverence):
- Definition: Expressing respect towards venerable beings through thoughts, speech, and actions.
- Synonyms: Chitikarma, Krutikarma, Pujakarma.
- Criteria for Vandan: The text discusses the qualifications for those who are worthy of salutation (Vandya) and those who are not (Avandya), using the analogy of coins (pure silver with a clear imprint).
- Venerable Beings: Ascetics (Munis) possessing both external (Dravya Ling) and internal (Bhava Ling) characteristics are considered worthy of salutation. This includes Acharyas, Upadhyayas, Pravartakas, Sthaviras, and those with superior virtues.
- Non-Venerable Beings: Those lacking either external or internal characteristics, or both, are not worthy of salutation. This includes certain categories of monks and those who possess external form but lack inner virtues.
- Consequences of Improper Vandan: Saluting unworthy individuals leads to no spiritual merit, no reputation, and can result in karmic bondage due to immodesty. It can also lead to the downfall of the unworthy recipient.
- Purity of Vandan: Vandan should be free from 32 defects (Doshas), such as disrespect (Anadarat).
Pratikraman (Atonement/Retrospection):
- Definition: Returning to virtuous conduct after lapsing into unvirtuous states due to negligence. It also involves abandoning unvirtuous actions and engaging in increasingly virtuous activities.
- Synonyms: Prativarana, Pariharana, Karana, Nivrutti, Ninda, Gaha, Shuddhi.
- Meaning: The core meaning is "to turn back" or return to one's original, pure state.
- Types: Daily (Divasika), nightly (Rātrika), fortnightly (Pakshika), four-monthly (Chaturmāsika), and annual (Samvatsarika) Pratikraman, as mentioned by Sri Bhadrabahuswami.
- Time-Based Pratikraman: Atoning for past faults, abstaining from current faults through restraint (Samvara), and preventing future faults through vows (Pachchhakkhana).
- Areas of Atonement: One should perform Pratikraman for ignorance (Mithyatva), non-restraint (Avirati), passions (Kashaya), and unrighteous activities (Aprashasta Yoga).
- Types: Material Pratikraman (Dravya Pratikraman) and Internal Pratikraman (Bhava Pratikraman). Internal Pratikraman is the truly beneficial one.
- Material Pratikraman: Actions performed merely for outward show, or continuing faults even after performing the ritual. This can lead to increased obstinacy in faults. An analogy is given of a novice monk who repeatedly breaks pottery and apologizes.
Kayotsarga (Abandoning the Body/Meditation):
- Definition: Renouncing attachment to the body and concentrating the mind for meditation (Dharma or Shukla Dhyana).
- Purpose: To overcome physical and mental inertia, remove imbalances in bodily elements, enhance reasoning power, and develop the ability to remain equanimous in pleasure and pain. It also strengthens meditation and contemplation of faults.
- Breathing: The duration of breaths during Kayotsarga is said to be equivalent to the time taken to recite one line of a verse.
Pratyakhyana (Renunciation/Vow):
- Definition: The act of renouncing something.
- Types of Renunciation: Material (Dravya) and Internal (Bhava). Material renunciation involves external things like food and clothing, while internal renunciation involves abandoning negative states like ignorance and lack of restraint.
- Importance of Internal Renunciation: Material renunciation should be done with the purpose and after internal renunciation of negative states to yield spiritual benefit.
- Purity of Pratyakhyana: It is considered pure when performed with sixfold purity: faith, knowledge, salutation, appropriate following, appropriate speech, and internal attitude.
- Synonym: "Gunadharana" (acquiring virtues) because it leads to the acquisition of many virtues.
- Benefit: Pratyakhyana leads to restraint (Samvara), which eliminates desires, promotes unparalleled equanimity, and ultimately leads to liberation (Moksha).

The Natural Order and Rationale:

The text explains the natural progression of these practices for individuals with inner insight:

Goal of Equanimity: Their primary aim is to achieve equanimity (Samayika).
Praise and Salutation: When they witness someone embodying perfect equanimity, they praise their virtues and offer salutations to such spiritual beings.
Return and Progress: Due to inherent tendencies or influences, they might occasionally deviate from equanimity. However, their diligence (Apramatta) allows them to perform Pratikraman, return to their previous state, and even surpass it.
Meditation and Renunciation: Meditation (Kayotsarga) is a key to spiritual growth, leading to mental purification and immersion in the soul. This makes renunciation of material pleasures (Pratyakhyana) a natural step.
Underlying Principle: The breakdown of the natural, elevated lives of spiritually advanced individuals forms the basis and sequence of "Avashyak Kriya."

The Spirituality of "Avashyak Kriya":

Soul Development: Any action performed with the intention of soul development, which involves the gradual purification of qualities like right faith, consciousness, and conduct, is spiritual.
Samayika: Leads to the cessation of sinful activities, enabling karmic shedding and soul development.
Chaturvimsatistava: Fosters attachment to virtues and leads to their attainment, also contributing to karmic shedding and soul development.
Vandan: Cultivates humility, reduces ego, enables devotion to spiritual guides, adherence to Tirthankara teachings, and worship of the Dharma. This leads to progress, knowledge, self-control, austerity, destruction of karma, and liberation.
Pratikraman: The goal is to overcome past faults and remain vigilant against future ones, leading to a purified soul and eventual self-realization.
Kayotsarga: Focuses the mind, allows introspection, and helps overcome fear, enabling the attainment of even the most difficult spiritual goals.
Pratyakhyana: Leads individuals to abstain from futile worldly enjoyments and attain lasting inner peace.

Usage of the Term "Pratikraman":

The text notes that while "Pratikraman" etymologically means "to turn back," its common usage has evolved to refer to the entire set of six "Avashyak" practices, or often just the fourth one. In modern texts, "Pratikraman" has become a near synonym for "Avashyak" in general discourse, though this usage is not found in ancient scriptures where "Pratikraman" was used in a more specific sense.